Kenyan and the boy with too much energy

AP, MAI-I-HII, Kenya

“We talked about this thing [doping] many times when he became a strong rider, when he would come here for holidays from South Africa, where he saw some cyclists spoiling their bodies doping,” Kinjah said. “The Tour de France is about mental strength, hard work, preparation and determination, and that is what Chris is about. In short, there is no doping there.”

Froome’s metamorphosis from a skinny, but spirited kid who found something in cycling, to the winner of its biggest race is nearly complete.

Kinjah has watched every stage of the Tour de France from his two-room home, where bicycles hang from the sheet metal roof and a group of young riders also gather around the television to see Froome — who started where they are now — lead and maybe win the race that is the pinnacle of the sport.

“We hope that he will finish on the podium with the yellow jersey, which is really visible right now,” Kinjah said.

Watching one stage, 18-year-old Vincent Chege turned to the group and said: “In the next two years, I will be there, you guys just wait.”